1.
GV Kachel serves to Connors in first set Kachel wins point
0.06

2.
MV Crowd
0.08

3.
GV Connors serves on near end and wins first set
0.14

4.
SV Scroeboard showing score 7-5 to Connors
0.16

5.
GV Connors serving in second set and game continues
0.24

6.
GV Crowd
0.24

7.
GV Connors serves and wins second set six-two
0.35

8.
MV Scoreboard
0.37

9.
GV Connors serves to Kachel and Kachel wins point in third set
0.58

10.
GV Connors serves game continues
1.00

11.
GV Crowd
1.02

12.
GV Kachel serves and Connors wins point
1.14

13.
CU Crowd
1.15

14.
GV Kachel serves to Connors, game ends players shake hands and walk of court
1.33



Initials ET/2305 ET/2322



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Defending champion Jimmy Connors of the United States won his first match in the australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne on Thursday (26 December).

Connors, 22-year-old Wimbledon and United States Champion, scored a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win over Chris Kachel, former Australian Junier Champion. Connors, who is aiming for a repeat victory in Melbourne, later told newsmen that he has a hate-list of older players.

He said they tried to "psych" him before matches because they did not want youth to get up and win.

"But the older guys have to realise it is the younger ones who are keeping the game going and that it is a younger world," he said.

He explained he grew to hate these players on court and really went out to beat them. He added he had a mental list of them and they knew who they were.

Connors had little difficulty in winning Thursday's match. Kachel's main problem was his serving. He served 10 double faults and admitted he also had trouble with Connors' aggressive returns of service.

Connors' main rival at the open championships is Australia's John Newcombe.

SYNOPSIS: Former Australian junior champion Chris Kachel serving to defending champion Jimmy Connors of the United States in the first match in the Australia Open Tennis Championship on Thursday. The match was held at Kooyong in Melbourne. connors won the first set seven-five. connors, the twenty-two-year old Wimbledon and United States champion, is aiming for a repeat victory in Melbourne.

Connors serving at set point in the second set, which he won six-two. Later Connors told newsmen he has a hate-list of older players. He said they tried to "psych" him before matches because they did not want youth to win. But the older players had to realise it was the young ones who were keeping the game going, he added.

On Thursday, Connors had little difficulty in winning in tree sets. He said he did not treat the match as a warm-up. Everytime he went on a court he tried his hardest because he wanted to beat his opponent as conclusively as he could. Kachel had problems with his serving. He served ten double faults and admitted he also had trouble with Connors' aggressive returns of service. Connors won this third set six-three. His main rival at the Australian open championship is Australia's John Newcombe.